Closure for collapsible tubes



June 11, 1929. H, c, STEVENSON 1,716,802

. CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed March 19, 1928 INVENTOR fiorold C. Ste Venspn.

ATTOR Z Patented June 1 l, 1929.

nmomic. STEVENSON, OF COLORADO srRinGs, COLORADO.

I CLOSURE FOR COLLAP SIBLE TUBES.

-' Application filed March 19, 1928. Serial No. 262,763.

This invention relates to closure members for collapsible tubes and other containers in which plastic material is contained.

My object in general is to provide a closure for containers of this class whereby the contents may be expelled without the necessity of removing the cap. More specific objects are to provide such a closure which will 'efl'ectually exclude air or other extraneous substances from the residue of the contents remaining within the cap portion of the closure after having been opened and closed; which will effectually double seal the contents within the container; which shall be provided with a spring tension member that will obviate the possibility of loosening the cap portion and the consequent leakage of the contents in shipping or handling otherwise; which will effectually seal the contents within the container without the aid of cork or composition packing within the cap as now commonly used. Other objects will appear as the description progresses.

Figure 1 represents a cross sectional elevat1on, partly broken away, showing the cap screwed down and holding the ball in normal position against the nipple of a collapsible tube; Fig. 2, a cross sectional elevation showing the cap unscrewed for a distance to allow the dispensing of the contents of the tube; Fig. 3, an elevation of the ball and prongs; Fig.4, a plan view of the spider; Fig. 5, a plan view of the cap; Fig. 6, a cross sectional elevation of the cap on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5; and Figs. 7 and 8, cross sectional elevations of subcombinations.

Although I show the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not thereb limit myself to the precise forms shown but wish it understood that within the scope of what hereinafter is claimed, various changes in the precise details of construction maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

The reference character T denotes a collapsible tube provided with an exteriorly threaded nipple lhaving an orifice 2 and a circumferential groove 3. A ball 4, which may be "spherical or ellipsoidal, normally rests upon the nipple 1 so as to close the orifice 2 and is provided with a pair of elastic prongs 5 depending therefrom and provided with outward extensions 6 which form stops below the nipple 1. An interiorly threaded cap 7, having an interior concave dome port1on 8, an aperture 7, and an inwardly turned flange 9, is mounted on the nipple 1 so that the inwardly turned flange 9 fits into the groove 3 with sufficient clearance to permit the cap 7 to be unscrewed for a distance as shown in Fig. 2. A resilient spider 10is the ball 4 and normally holds said disposed on ball snugly against as shown in Fig. 1.

- The flange 9 fitting into the groove 3 prevents the cap from becoming separated from the n pple. The flexibility of the prongs 5 permit them to be easily inserted and the extensions 6 prevent them from slipping back through the orifice 2.

If the eap 7 is unscrewed, as shown in Fig. 2, the spider 10 will release the ball 4 from lts posltlonin the orifice 7 and pressure on the tube T will cause the contents to force the ball 4 from the orifice 2'and to pass around the ball 4 and spider 10 through the orifice 7 The ball 4 may be spherical or ellipsoidal as desired.

I claim:

1. A ball valve normally resting on the neck ofv a collapsible tube and forming a closure for the discharge aperture through said neck, sald valve having flexible prongs depending therefrom and extending through the discharge passage within said neck, said prongs havmg outward extensions near their inner the end of the nipple 1 ends forming stops to prevent complete withdrawal, of said valve by contact against the inner side of the breast of the tube.

2. In combination with a collapsible contamer having a breast and an exteriorly threaded nipple containin a discharge passage, a ball normally resting on the end of said nipple so as to close said discharge pas-- sage, said ball carrying tending through said discharge passage; and a cap screwed on said threaded nipple.

3.- In combination with a collapsible container having a threaded nipple containing a discharge passage; a ball normall resting on said nipple so as to close said ischarge passage a resilient spider disposed on said ball; a cap, having a discharge orifice, screwed on said nipple against said s ider so as to hold said ball snugly against sald nipple when screwed tight but permitting aid ball to re cede from said nipple when sai cap is unscrewed.

4. In combination with a collapsible tube having a neck with a discharge passage therefiexible prongs exthrough; a ball valve normally resting on said neck and forming a closure for said discharge passage, said valve having flexible prongs depending therefrom and extending through 5 said discharge passage within said neck, said prongs having outward extensions near their inner ends forming stops to prevent the complete withdrawal of said valve by contact against the inner side of the breast of the tube; a resilient spider disposed on said 10 ball; and a cap mounted on said neck so as to hold said spider against said ball.

HAROLD G. STEVENSON. 

